Emotional balance and happiness. Psychotherapy, EMDR, and counseling by Bonnie L. Gertz. MA, LPC, LAC
It is possible to rewire the brain for joy, to change the negative, self-defeating messages stored in our subconscious that create barriers to our happiness. We have been given everything we need to be happy now, but our fear gets Continue reading Rewire Your Brain for Joy
I was privileged to sit in on a lecture by Francine Shapiro, creator of EMDR. This was one of her last lectures since she will be taking an extended sabbatical soon. She has been working non-stop for close to 40 Continue reading Therapeutic Goals of EMDR
Painful experiences from childhood and later in life, as well as traumatic events, seem to get locked in the nervous system with original images, sounds, thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and self-perceptions. These locked in experiences stored in the brain get Continue reading EMDR and Trauma
EMDR treatment consists of clients identifying negative beliefs about themselves which cause discomfort in the present. Together with the therapist, they identify how they would rather feel and act in these troublesome situations. EMDR is used to neutralize the discomfort, Continue reading Peeling Layers: the EMDR Process
We know that urges to use drugs and alcohol can be related to painful experiences from the past. These can get triggered in the present and cause distress. Using substances can temporarily make us feel good when we don’t want Continue reading EMDR and Substance Abuse
Typical symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) include nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, low self-esteem, relationship problems and persistent traumatic memories. EMDR can help alleviate these symptoms by reprocessing the incidents that caused the PTSD. Dysfunctional behavior originates from traumatic Continue reading EMDR and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
I attended a training a couple of months ago led by Laurel Parnell, Ph.D. She is a leading EMDR practitioner and trauma specialist, and provides clinical training for behavioral health professionals all over the world. I’ve been using EMDR in Continue reading Getting Specific: Expanding EMDR to Address the Individual